Reverence as a Mental State:An Interpretation of Reverence in Neo-Confucianism
It can be seen from an overview of reverence in Neo-Confucianism that reverence is not only a kind of feeling,but also an approach and mental state.The mental state of reverence regards the inborn humanity and justice of nature as the dominator which is embodied in the integrity and concentration of heart state.The relationship between mental state and feeling as well as approach of reverence is fundamental and incidental,antecedent and subsequent,physical and functional.Keeping the feeling and approach of reverence under control can cultivate the mental state.Upholding the mental state of reverence can also make the feeling unbiased and the approach natural.The mental state of reverence has its special way of self-cultivation which can set up the object as dominator by fully concentrating and occupying on approaches of Song-Ming Neo-Confucian moral philosophy as well as cultivating the morality.On the other hand,the object's qualities of honesty and devotion can be fostered by studying the nature of things with pure pursuit.
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